Chapter 15
“What do we do with this information?” I asked as Zane pulled out of the resort’s parking lot. “I mean, they admitted to causing physical and irreparable harm to another supernatural.”
“I know,” Zane said. “I’m just not sure what can be done fifteen years later, and I’m not sure if they were all adults when the accident happened. They could have still been minors. I think we need to call the sheriff. Let him contact the district attorney and see what he says.”
“So we’re not going to the lab now?” I asked. “Didn’t you say Doc Treestone texted and said the autopsy was finished?”
Zane smiled. “I actually lied. That was Rota who texted. She said she heard back from Parker Harrington, the attorney, regarding Mari’s will. Rota said she has some information for us when we come in for backgrounds.”
I laughed. “Nicely played, Fallen Angel. Made Hunter talk.”
“What’s Reed’s address?” Zane mused.
I pulled out my phone and pulled up the PADA app and entered Reed’s name. “Looks like 3902 Wharf Way.”
Fifteen minutes later, Zane pulled onto Wharf Way, and I suddenly realized why the warehouses looked so familiar.
My first case with Zane had brought us down this way.
The road followed the ocean, making it easy for trucks to load and unload.
It was also where Gadray Sandu lived. He’d been the brother to the murdered victim in my first case.
“I haven’t been down here since the Sandu case.” I leaned forward in my seat and peered through the windshield. “Isn’t that Gadray’s barn?”
“Sure is.”
Gadray Sandu was a boat builder. He’d built a beautiful two-story wooden barn with a skylight roof. The first time I’d ever seen something like that before. He also lived on one side of the barn and used the other side to hand make his boats.
“Looks like he’s working today,” Zane said.
The bay to Gadray’s barn was open, and when he heard us approach, he looked up and waved. Zane and I waved back as we slowly made our way along the rutted lane.
“It’s mostly commercial property,” I said. “Why would Reed live here?”
“Easy access,” Zane said. “He makes his living fishing, so why not live along the wharf?”
“I think I see him on his boat,” I said as Zane slowed down.
“I’ll park in the drive, and we can walk down.”
Reed Masterson’s cottage sat at the end of the rutted road overlooking the water.
It was a small, weathered house with cedar shingles and very little adornment.
A rusted weather vane shaped like a selkie spun lazily atop the chimney.
A cobblestone walkway led to the back of the house, and Zane and I followed it around back.
A narrow wooden dock extended from the rocky shoreline behind the cottage, and a fishing boat sat in the single slip, rocking gently with the tide. Crab pots were stacked along one side of the dock, and coils of line hung from cleats.
Reed sat on an overturned bucket near the stern, a six-pack of beer sitting next to him, and a bait bag in his hands. He was tying the bag closed with practiced fingers, not even looking at what he was doing. When he heard us coming down the dock, he glanced up but didn’t stand.
“Permission to come aboard?” Zane asked.
“Don’t see how I can stop you.” He tossed the finished bait bag into a crate near his feet. “I know who you are. And I know why you’re here.” He took a long pull from his beer. “I heard about Mari.”
“I hear you guys were pretty close in high school,” I said.
Reed reached for another bait bag. “That was fifteen years ago. A lot has changed since then.”
“I saw you at the marina earlier,” I said. “But you don’t park your boat at Halter Marina?”
“No need to. I have my own dock. I just go there to load up on supplies or unload my fish for the mongers.”
Zane shoved his hands in his pockets. “When was the last time you saw or spoke to Mari Quinn?”
Reed finished his beer and set the empty bottle down by his feet. “I couldn’t even tell you. Like I said, we don’t socialize anymore.” He snorted. “I don’t socialize with any of them anymore. We just went our separate ways.”
“We hear that’s true for the most part,” I said. “But rumor has it you still kept in touch with Mari.”
Reed shrugged. “I guess I did. Maybe once or twice a year we’d catch up. Of all those in that group, she was the only one truly genuine. She was nice. I liked her back then, and I liked her just fine today.”
I cocked my head and studied the blond selkie shifter. “But you used to date Rayna Halter, right?”
“Fifteen years ago.”
“Where were you yesterday from three until five?” Zane asked.
Reed started on another bait bag. “Finished my morning haul around noon. Docked my boat, went inside the marina to get a few things, walked into town to grab some chowder, and then I had to go to City Hall to pay more money.” He shook his head.
“Damn town just wants to take and take. They’ve increased boat registration and commercial fishing permits. ”
I remembered seeing him arguing at the permits counter at City Hall, so I knew that to be true.
“After you did that, where did you go?” I asked.
“I went home. Like I said, my haul was in, and I’d taken care of my errand, so I walked back to the marina, grabbed my boat, and left.
Takes about five minutes to get to my house by boat.
” He tied off the bait bag and tossed it into the crate.
“Washed down my boat.” He pursed his lips.
“Let’s see, I then went inside, took a shower, watched a little TV, and had a bite to eat around five o’clock.
I then went into town for a beer at The Sea Wharf—a local bar where fishermen hang out—around five-thirty.
I had a couple beers, and then I left around seven.
” He crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow.
“That’s my entire day and night. Satisfied? ”
“Did you have dinner alone?” I asked.
Reed scowled. “Of course. I prefer the solitary life. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with that.”
So basically what he was telling me was that he didn’t have an airtight alibi during the time frame we’d asked about.
“Have you received a valentine in the mail recently?” I asked.
Reed picked up another bait bag. “Maybe.”
“Can we see it?” Zane asked.
“I tossed it.”
I studied the man across from me. I couldn’t tell if his nonchalance was true or put on. “We already know about what you and your little group of friends did to Eliza Nordic in high school.”
Reed didn’t even blink. He just stared us down. “Is that so?”
“That’s so,” I said. “We also know Rayna went farther than you all had originally planned.”
I tried to make it sound like he was more victim than anything, just to see if he’d turn on Rayna.
“Why are you really here?” he asked. “Is it to find out if I killed Mari? I didn’t. She was the only person in that group that I still spoke to after all these years.”
“And why is that?” Zane asked.
For a minute, Reed said nothing. “Because Mari was the only one who had a heart that day. And yes, I’m including myself in the mix.
Mari wanted to do the right thing and admit to us making the spell, but we talked her out of it.
” He smirked and shook his head. “Rayna made sure none of us would ever tell, but I guess now that you know, the secret is out.” He chuckled and tossed the bag into the crate. “Rayna is gonna be pissed about that.”
“Is that why you and Rayna broke up?” I asked. “You knew she’d added another layer to the original spell, and then she used magic to hurt Eliza in the parking lot?”
Reed arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like someone really talked.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Did you know Hunter and Sasha Carter were having an affair?”
Reed let out a bark of laughter. “No. But I’m not surprised. Sasha always had a thing for Hunter, but he’d chosen Mari.” He shrugged. “Seems to me, if you’re looking for a killer, you might want to look at those two.”